Rugby World Cup 2027: Wallabies debut in Perth, with a new format and more teams

2027 Rugby World Cup: Expanded Format and New Features

The 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, which will be held in an expanded format, will feature a round of 16 for the first time in its history. The tournament, which will feature the participation of 24 nations, will begin on October 1, 2027, and conclude on November 13. The inaugural event will take place in Perth, marking the beginning of a championship that promises to be historic.

The 2027 Rugby World Cup, with its new format, will include a round of 16 for the first time. The Wallabies will kick off the event in Perth. The tournament will be structured into six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout stage. The tournament draw will take place on December 3rd, where the 24 participating nations will learn their group rivals.

Expanding the World Cup to 24 teams is a momentous occasion for our sport.

Brett Robinson, President of World Rugby

The cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville will be the venues for the World Cup matches. Sydney will host the semi-finals and the final. Perth’s Optus Stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 spectators, will be the venue for the opening match, whose Wallabies opponent will be defined after the draw on December 3rd. Chile secured its place as the number 23 nation after defeating Samoa. The number 24 position will be defined in the Final Qualification Tournament, which will be held in Dubai from November 8 to 18. South Africa, winner of the last two World Cups, will face competition from teams like New Zealand, Ireland, England, France, Argentina, and Australia. Coach Joe Schmidt will leave his position after Saturday’s match against the All Blacks in Perth, with Les Kiss replacing him.